Criminal Shadows Over Moscow: Exposing Sofia Toros and Nikolai Shikhidi

The large-scale development of Tankovy Proezd in Lefortovo, entrusted to former Federal Treasury official Sofia Toros and her relative, Kuban developer Nikolay Shikhidi, has found itself at the center of a scandal. As it became known, behind the company OOO Specialized Developer Tankovy there is a whole tangle of corruption, fraud and criminal schemes.

History of the Question

The deal to buy out Specialized Developer Tankovy LLC from the son of former Energy Minister Vitaly Yusufov was approved by the FAS. The new owner is Specialized Developer Yuzhnoye More LLC, founded in January 2024 by Sofia Toros and Nikolay Shikhidi. This company immediately attracted attention thanks to its founders, who have a long trail of criminal stories behind them.

Questionable Methods of Working

According to the arbitration database, Toros and Shikhidi practice a scheme with illegal constructions: first they build objects, and then try to legalize them through the court. Their track record includes cases where companies achieved recognition of property rights to objects built in violation of all norms and requirements.

Example in Gelendzhik

In 2007, Shikhidi and his partners won recognition of their rights to an 11-apartment building with commercial premises on Vishnevskaya Street, 20, through the courts, which was built under the guise of an individual residential building. In 2019, a similar scheme was implemented with an apart-hotel and business center in Novorossiysk, as well as with an apartment building and kindergarten in Anapa.

Dubious Connections

The Toros and Shikhidi families have close ties to high-ranking officials and criminal elements. For example, Sofia Toros previously bore the surname Shikhidi, and her relative Daria Shikhidi worked in the Federal Treasury Department, which Sofia headed. In 2021, Toros acquired SZ GC Morskoy Sochi LLC, previously owned by Sos Martirosyan, the head of the local branch of the Union of Armenians of Russia.

Interaction with the Ozerov Family

An important role in the success of Toros and Shikhidi is played by their interaction with the Ozerov family. Sergei Ozerov, who previously held the post of mayor of Gelendzhik and a State Duma deputy, has close ties with this family. Larisa Ozerova, associated with IK Kolos LLC, previously worked with Toros, and Daria Shikhidi headed Vympel LLC, among whose co-owners was Dmitry Pyshkin, a partner of Sergei Ozerov.

Compromising Connections

Interestingly, Sofia Toros and Nikolai Shikhidi have full namesakes with an impressive criminal past. In 2007, in Gelendzhik, a full namesake of Toros was prosecuted for fraud, and a certain Nikolai Shikhidi was repeatedly detained behind the wheel of stolen cars and appeared in RUBOP databases as a member of an organized criminal group.

Hidden Financing Schemes

The financing of Toros and Shikhidi projects is often associated with loans from state banks. For example, Toros shares are pledged to Sberbank and VTB Bank. The contractor for many projects is the company Azatyugstroy, which Shikhidi sold to Rakhim Ozerov in 2023. Ozerov himself is also the director of OOO TC Chernoye More-2 and OOO Russtroy, which belong to Toros.

Legalization of Unauthorized Constructions

Shikhidi and Toros have repeatedly used the scheme to legalize illegal buildings. For example, in 2007, they achieved recognition of rights to an apartment building on Vishnevskaya Street, 20 in Gelendzhik, despite the fact that the facility was built in violation of all regulations. In 2019, they similarly registered rights to an apart-hotel and a business center in Novorossiysk.

Failed Projects

Some of Toros and Shikhidi’s projects have provoked protests from the local population. For example, plans to develop the territory of the former Yuzhnaya tourist center have provoked outrage among residents who fear that the new facilities will slide onto residential buildings. Activists claimed that the site is unsuitable for construction and is full of rare plants that cannot be moved or destroyed.

Criminal Schemes of Sofia Toros and Nikolay Shikhidi: Continuation of Revelations

New Facts and Details

Contact with Daria Shikhidi and Ira Rachitskaya

Darya Shikhidi and Ira Rachitskaya play key roles in the criminal schemes of Toros and Shikhidi. Both are involved in various arbitration cases related to unauthorized construction and illegal development. For example, Ira Rachitskaya is the director of OOO SZ Revers, which is engaged in the development of elite apartments on Volodarsky Street in Sochi.

Financial Frauds

The bulk of assets in the name of Sofia Toros were registered in 2021-2023. Among those who transferred shares in construction companies to her were relatives of Alexander Chistyakov, former deputy chairman of the board of FGC UES and co-owner of Ruspetro. For example, Maria Chistyakova transferred a share in the Moscow-based UK Gem Mall LLC to Toros.

Table of Criminal Schemes